Method and system for soil and water resources
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling irrigation, the method comprising:
- irrigating a soil area with water during an irrigation event utilizing a plurality of valves, each of the plurality of valves in flow communication with a water source and a sprinkler;
monitoring a moisture content of the soil area utilizing a wireless sensor for each of the plurality of valves, wherein monitoring a moisture content of the soil area is performed a plurality of times each day;
determining if the soil moisture content value exceeds a predetermined threshold;
transmitting a wireless signal from the wireless sensor to an interrupter for each valve of the plurality of valves, the wireless signal indicating that the soil moisture content value exceeds a predetermined threshold; and
limiting the irrigation event if the soil moisture content value exceeds the predetermined threshold.
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Abstract
A system and method for monitoring soil and water resources is disclosed herein. Sensors capable of monitoring soil temperature, moisture and salinity are utilized with other sensors capable of monitoring such values as air temperature in order to provide real-time parameters to users/operators of land area.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for controlling irrigation, the method comprising:
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irrigating a soil area with water during an irrigation event utilizing a plurality of valves, each of the plurality of valves in flow communication with a water source and a sprinkler; monitoring a moisture content of the soil area utilizing a wireless sensor for each of the plurality of valves, wherein monitoring a moisture content of the soil area is performed a plurality of times each day; determining if the soil moisture content value exceeds a predetermined threshold; transmitting a wireless signal from the wireless sensor to an interrupter for each valve of the plurality of valves, the wireless signal indicating that the soil moisture content value exceeds a predetermined threshold; and limiting the irrigation event if the soil moisture content value exceeds the predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for controlling irrigation, the method comprising:
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irrigating a soil area with water during an irrigation event utilizing a plurality of valves, each of the plurality of valves in flow communication with a water source and a sprinkler, each of the plurality of valves connected to a wireless sensor, the wireless sensor comprising a probe conducting structure to be placed in the soil to form a capacitor, a circuit comprising a high frequency oscillator for applying an electrical stimulus to the probe structure, a reference capacitor connected in series to the high frequency oscillator, a voltage meter located between the high frequency oscillator and the reference capacitor, a processor and a transceiver; measuring an output voltage from a voltage meter when the high frequency oscillator is active; calculating a capacitance of the soil as a function of voltage to obtain a soil moisture content value; determining if the soil moisture content value exceeds a predetermined threshold; transmitting a wireless signal from the wireless sensor to an interrupt for each valve of the plurality of valves, the wireless signal indicating that the soil moisture content value exceeds a predetermined threshold; and limiting the irrigation event if the soil moisture content value exceeds the predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for controlling irrigation, the system comprising:
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a water source; at least one valve in flow communication with the water source and a sprinkler, the at least one valve corresponding to a soil area; at least one sub-surface sensor corresponding to the soil area, the sub-surface wireless sensors corresponding to the at least one valve, the sub-surface wireless sensor having a power source and a probe structure for measuring a moisture content of the soil area, wherein the probe conducting structure is placed in the soil to form a capacitor, a circuit comprising a high frequency oscillator for applying a electrical stimulus to the probe structure, a reference capacitor connected in series to the high frequency oscillator, and a voltage meter located between the high frequency oscillator and the reference capacitor; and at least one interrupter corresponding to the at least one valve, wherein the at least one interrupter is in wireless communication with the at least one sub-surface wireless sensor and wherein a signal indicating a value exceeding a predetermined moisture threshold for the soil area monitored by the at least one sub-surface wireless sensor limits an irrigation event for the soil-area. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification